Audio By Carbonatix
Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati has won the Women's Ballon d'Or for the first time.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful year as she helped her club triumph in the Spanish top flight and Champions League, and her country win the World Cup in the summer.
She was also crowned Uefa's Player of the Year in August.
England goalkeeper Mary Earps achieved a fifth-place finish while team-mate Rachel Daly was 10th.
Fellow Lionesses Millie Bright and Georgia Stanway were also among the nominees.
Sam Kerr of Chelsea and Australia finished second, Barcelona and Spain teenager Salma Paralluelo was third, and Fridolina Rolfo of Barcelona and Sweden finished fourth.
"I'm very proud to win the Ballon d'Or," Bonmati said.
"Football is a collective sport so I'd like to extend this prize to my team-mates and staff."
She added at the end of her speech in English: "Finally congratulations to the other nominees. They're great footballers.
"As role models, we have a responsibility on and off the pitch. We should be more than athletes and keep leading by example and fighting together for a better, peaceful and equal world."
Spain's World Cup win was overshadowed by the fallout from Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales kissing Jenni Hermoso after the final, which she said was not consensual.
Bonmati scored three goals at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand as Spain went on to beat England in the final.
She has now won four league titles with Barcelona and two Champions Leagues.
This was the fifth edition of the Women's Ballon d'Or, with Bonmati's Spain and Barcelona team-mate Alexia Putellas winning the past two.
Latest Stories
-
Morocco beat Nigeria on penalties to set up AFCON final against Senegal
2 hours -
NaCCA Director-General apologises as withdrawn teacher manual sparks national outrage
2 hours -
Mane destroys Salah’s Afcon dream again – will he get another chance?
2 hours -
‘If Flick hadn’t come, I would have left Barca’ – Raphinha
3 hours -
Real Madrid stunned by second division Albacete in Copa del Rey
3 hours -
Tottenham sign Gallagher from Atletico for £35m
3 hours -
Amateur stuns world’s best Jannik Sinner to win A$1m in Melbourne
3 hours -
FBI searches home of Washington Post reporter in classified documents probe
3 hours -
Trump administration pauses immigrant visa processing for 75 countries
3 hours -
UK–Ghana crack down on immigration crime as fugitive smuggler jailed
4 hours -
Ghana’s Benjamin Arhin shines on Internacional debut with Man of the Match display
4 hours -
Stanbic Bank Ghana maintain top rank in Customer Experience Leadership in 2025 KPMG Assessment
4 hours -
Newmont-backed AI smart lab powers Kona D/A students to victory at Ghana Robotics CompetitionÂ
4 hours -
Venezuelan acting president says hundreds of prisoners have been released since December
4 hours -
Nilex Suites holds first open house ahead of official launch
5 hours
